Philadelphia History Tour: Independence Hall & War Tent

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

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Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Stand where the Declaration of Independence was signed, then step inside to see Washington's War Tent

A 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Philadelphia's Old City covers Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the Liberty Bell and Benjamin Franklin's grave, ending with entry to the Museum of the American Revolution to view George Washington's War Tent. The tour runs shared or private with a local English-speaking guide; you get a discounted ticket to explore the rest of the museum after the tour ends. Wheelchair accessible; suitable for all fitness levels.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Philadelphia's historic landmarks

Start at Signer’s Garden statue
See Independence Hall and Congress Hall
View Independence Hall exterior
Visit Congress Hall exterior
Explore Philadelphia Old City Hall
Learn about Liberty Bell history
See Carpenters Hall exterior
Visit Museum of the American Revolution
Walk Elfreth's Alley
Pass Betsy Ross House
Visit Benjamin Franklin’s Grave
See President's House

The Experience

Your guide meets you at the Signer's Garden statue in Independence National Historical Park, where the tour opens with the story of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. From there you walk the cobblestone streets of Old City, passing Independence Hall itself—the building on the $100 bill where both founding documents were written—along with Congress Hall, Old City Hall and Carpenters' Hall, where the first Continental Congress convened. The guide talks through the history and the role each building played in shaping American democracy, so you're not just looking at facades; you're standing in front of the actual places where the nation was born.

The Liberty Bell gets its own stop, and your guide separates fact from myth: how this broken bell became a symbol of freedom, and how it inspired abolitionists, suffragettes and the civil rights movement long after the Revolution ended. You'll also pass Benjamin Franklin's grave on Arch Street, see the Betsy Ross House (and hear the real story behind the flag myth), and walk Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, with architecture dating to the early 1700s. At the President's House, your guide covers both the legendary residents—George Washington and John Adams—and the enslaved people who lived there, while pointing out the active archaeological dig still happening in downtown Philadelphia.

The tour ends at the Museum of the American Revolution, where you go inside to see a presentation featuring George Washington's War Tent—the canvas shelter he lived in during much of the Revolutionary War. After that, you get a discounted ticket to return and explore the rest of the museum on your own time. A portion of the tour price goes to a local non-profit historic organization.

What’s included

A knowledgeable local guide who speaks English.
entry to the Museum of the American Revolution to view George Washington's War Tent presentation.
a discounted ticket to explore the rest of the museum after the tour.
a donation to a local non-profit historic organization on your behalf.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WeVenture

Is this one for you?Choose the public tour if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want the standard price; pick the private option if your group prefers to move at your own pace and have the guide's full attention. Both work equally well for a first visit to Philadelphia or a return trip focused on the founding era.